1896 Proof Cent Pattern - J-1768

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,994 • PR64 BN PCGS • Heritage Auctions

Description

Judd-1768 in proof format is a pattern cent struck in copper-nickel with a plain edge, featuring mirrored proof fields that distinguish it from the business-strike version bearing the same Judd number. The obverse displays Charles Barber's shield obverse design for the 1896 alloy testing series: a vertically striped shield with LIBERTY inscribed on a scroll across its center, two crossed poles behind topped by a Phrygian cap on the left and a perched eagle on the right, E PLURIBUS UNUM above, and the date 1896 below, all enclosed within a beaded border. The reverse presents ONE CENT centered within a curved olive sprig, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the circumference and a beaded border. The copper-nickel composition — the standard 75% copper and 25% nickel alloy used for five-cent pieces — was among the most practical alternatives tested during the 1896 program, as the Mint already maintained production infrastructure for this alloy. The proof finish allowed Mint officials and lawmakers to evaluate the design's aesthetic qualities at their finest, while the business-strike version of J-1768 demonstrated how the same composition would appear under mass production conditions. This dual-format approach gave Congress a comprehensive view of each alloy's potential for circulating coinage.

Rarity Notes

R-5. Approximately 30 to 60 examples exist. More available than most 1896 pattern cents.

Cross References

Judd J-1768, Pollock P-1983